Method and apparatus for tracking customer purchases using a unique anonymous identifier

Abstract

A method and apparatus are provided for tracking customer purchases using a unique anonymous identifier. Customer purchases are monitored by obtaining a unique anonymous identifier from the customer as part of a current transaction; and associating the current transaction with a prior transaction using the unique anonymous identifier. The unique anonymous identifier can be, for example, a purchase identifier associated with the prior transaction, and provides a link among a plurality of transactions associated with the customer. The current or prior transaction (or both) can optionally be clustered with one or more transactions associated with registered users having known demographics to obtain demographic information for at least one of the current and prior transactions.

1. A method for monitoring a customer, said method comprising the steps of:
 receiving a unique anonymous identifier from said customer as part of a current transaction; and 
 linking said current transaction with a prior transaction using said unique anonymous identifier, wherein said unique anonymous identifier is obtained from a token provided with said prior transaction and uniquely identifies said prior transaction, wherein one or more of said steps are performed by a processor. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said unique anonymous identifier is a purchase identifier associated with said prior transaction. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein said token is a receipt associated with said prior transaction. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said unique anonymous identifier provides a link among a plurality of transactions associated with said customer. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of recording said unique anonymous identifier in a transaction record associated with said current transaction. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of clustering at least one of said current and prior transactions with one or more transactions associated with registered users having known demographics to obtain demographic information for at least one of said current and prior transactions. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said unique anonymous identifier is issued in connection with said prior transaction. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein said unique anonymous identifier is based on a closeness in time of said current and prior transactions. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of determining if said customer is eligible for a reward. 
     
     
       10. A method for monitoring a customer, said method comprising the steps of:
 receiving a receipt from said customer as part of a current transaction, said receipt being associated with a prior transaction of said customer; and 
 linking said current transaction with said prior transaction using a purchase identifier on said receipt, wherein said purchase identifier uniquely identifies said prior transaction, wherein one or more of said steps are performed by a processor. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said purchase identifier provides a link among a plurality of transactions associated with said customer. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of recording said purchase identifier in a transaction record associated with said current transaction. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of clustering at least one of said current and prior transactions with one or more transactions associated with registered users having known demographics to obtain demographic information for at least one of said current and prior transactions. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of determining if said customer is eligible for a reward. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 10 , wherein said unique anonymous identifier is issued in connection with said prior transaction. 
     
     
       16. A system for monitoring a customer, said system comprising:
 a memory; and 
 at least one processor, coupled to the memory, operative to: 
 receive a unique anonymous identifier from said customer as part of a current transaction; and 
 link said current transaction with a prior transaction using said unique anonymous identifier, wherein said unique anonymous identifier is obtained from a token provided with said prior transaction and uniquely identifies said prior transaction. 
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein said unique anonymous identifier is a purchase identifier associated with said prior transaction. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein said token is a receipt associated with said prior transaction. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 16 , wherein said unique anonymous identifier provides a link among a plurality of transactions associated with said customer. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 16 , wherein said processor is further configured to record said unique anonymous identifier in a transaction record associated with said current transaction. 
     
     
       21. The system of  claim 16 , wherein said processor is further configured to cluster at least one of said current and prior transactions with one or more transactions associated with registered users having known demographics to obtain demographic information for at least one of said current and prior transactions. 
     
     
       22. The system of  claim 16 , wherein said unique anonymous identifier is issued in connection with said prior transaction. 
     
     
       23. The system of  claim 16 , wherein said processor is further configured to determine if said customer is eligible for a reward. 
     
     
       24. An article of manufacture for monitoring a customer, comprising a machine readable recordable medium containing one or more programs which when executed implement the steps of:
 receiving a unique anonymous identifier from said customer as part of a current transaction; and 
 linking said current transaction with a prior transaction using said unique anonymous identifier, wherein said unique anonymous identifier is obtained from a token provided with said prior transaction and uniquely identifies said prior transaction.